Interval Chart

An Interval chart is similar to a Bar Chart but represents two measures with each bar: A smaller value that defines the bottom of the bar, and a larger value that defines the size of the bar. (Note that the second measure specifies the vertical span of the bar, and not the upper value of the bar.)

interval chart example

To create an interval chart, follow the basic steps below:

If you are new to charting, see the following sections first:

Configure Your Data…​

The data source for the chart (data block or data model) should represent dimensions and measures as independent columns or fields, as shown below. See Prepare Your Data for information on how to manipulate your data, if it is not currently in this form. (Note: A properly designed data model will already have the correct structure.)

data source with dimensions and measures as columns

In some cases (e.g., Pie Chart), you may want your data to provide just a single measure. In other cases (e.g., Line Chart), you may want the data to supply multiple measures. If the data does not provide the correct number of measures, you may be able to alter the number of measures to suit the needs of the chart by “pivoting” or “unpivoting” the data. See Pivot Data in Prepare Your Data for more information about this procedure.

Open a Chart for Editing…​
Watch Video: Create a Chart (Open the Chart Editor)

This video might show an earlier version of the feature or operation that differs in minor ways from the current version.

Follow the steps below to get started with a new Chart. See Basic Charting Steps for more details.

  1. If necessary, create a new Dashboard. (See Create a New Dashboard.)

  2. From the Toolbox panel, drag a Chart component into the Dashboard.

    drag Chart component into Dashboard

  3. Resize the Chart as desired by dragging the handles.

    drag handles to resize Chart

  4. Press the ’Edit’ button in the center of the Chart or press the ‘Edit’ button Edit in the top-right corner.

    press Edit button on Chart

    This opens the same Visualization Recommender available for creating a new Dashboard. (See Create a New Dashboard.)

  5. To bypass the Recommender, press the ‘Full Editor’ button Full Editor at the top right to open the Chart Editor.

    press Full Editor to open Chart Editor

  1. Press the ‘Select Chart Style’ button Select Chart Style. Choose the ‘Interval’ style. Press the ‘Apply’ button Apply.

    press Select Chart Style button

  2. From the ‘Dimensions’ folder of the Data Source panel, drag a desired dimension to the ‘X’ region.

    What is a dimension?

    A dimension is used to break-down the dataset into multiple groups, often within a Crosstab, Chart, or Selection List. Adding a dimension to the ‘X’ region of a Chart distinguishes the different dimension groups by location on the X-axis. Adding a dimension to the ‘Y’ region distinguishes the different dimension groups by location on the Y-axis. You can add multiple dimensions into the ‘X’ or ‘Y’ regions of a Chart, or into the ‘Rows’ or ‘Columns’ regions of a Crosstab, to create multiple grouping levels. You can also distinguish groups in a dimension by using color, shape, size, or label in a Chart.

    drag dimension to X region

    To convert a measure to a dimension, right-click the measure in the data source and select ‘Convert to Dimension’.

  3. Optional: For a date dimension, press the ‘Edit Dimension’ button Edit Dimension next to the field name in the Chart Editor, and set the ‘Level’ to the desired date grouping. Then press the ‘Apply’ button Apply.

    press Edit Dimension button

  4. Optional: You can add additional dimensions to the Chart if desired. See Trellis Chart (Grid) for information about adding multiple dimensions to a chart axis. See Basic Charting Steps for information on how to add dimensions using color, shape, or size representation.

  5. From the ‘Measures’ folder of the Data Source panel, drag a measure to the ‘Y’ region. This measure defines the lower value of each bar/interval on the chart.

    What is a measure?

    A measure is generally used for aggregation, for example summation, averaging, correlation, etc., within a Crosstab, Chart, Text component, or Gauge. Adding a measure to the ‘Y’ region in a chart displays the computed aggregates by using locations on the Y-axis. Adding a measure to the ‘X’ region displays the computed aggregates by using locations on the X-axis. You can also display aggregates by using color, shape, size, or label.

    drag measure to Y region

    To convert a dimension to a measure, right-click the dimension in the data source and select ‘Convert to Measure’.

  6. Press the ‘Edit Measure’ button Edit Measure next to the measure, and select the desired aggregation method for the measure.

    press Edit Measure button

  7. From the ‘Measures’ folder of the Data Source panel, drag a second measure to the ‘Size’ region. This measure defines the height of each bar/interval on the chart.

    As shown in the example, the second measure can be the same as the first measure, but with a different aggregation method.

    drag measure to Size region

  8. Press the ‘Edit Measure’ button Edit Measure next to the ‘Size’ measure, and select the desired aggregation method for the measure.

    press Edit Measure button

    The lower value of each bar is specified by the aggregate ‘Y’ measure, and its height (vertical span) is specified by the aggregate ‘Size’ measure.

    interval chart with lower and size measures

  9. You can add additional measures to the Chart if desired. See Basic Charting Steps for information on how to add measures using color, shape, or size representation.

  10. Press the ‘Finish’ button Finish to close the Editor.

You can proceed to edit the titles, legend, etc. See Basic Charting Steps and Chart Properties for more information. See Add Data Format for information on how to format text on a Chart.